Basic Information

Your Name : Section: Blue Roll No: 19102001-039 Degree: BBA

MUHAMMAD
SHABAN

: Book Review of “jinnah, Pakistan and Islamic

identity”:
Author’s Name of Book:

Akbar Salahuddin Ahmed

Introduction of Book:
(This book is an autobiography)
This book was written in 1997 by Akbar Salahuddin Ahmed
so that new generations know about Muhammad Ali Jinnah
and his struggle for Pakistan and about his family. Basically
this book give impression of 1876 to 1948 that was the time
zone of Muhammad Ali Jinnah. The book Jinnah Pakistan
and Islamic identity is about Muhammad Ali Jinnah his
family. From his childhood till his death his all aspects of
life are discussed in this book with detail from Muhammad
Ali Jinnah life the struggle of independent and separate state where Muslims can live freely and
do their religious precious freely without any fear. Basically book type is an autobiography of
one of the greatest leaders of time whose name is Muhammad Ali Jinnah who had fought for free
and independent state for Muslims all his struggles and hard work are described in this book.

Summary of Book:
Akbar S. Ahmed is a noted author of many literary works whose latest academic effort is this
above average examination of the life of Muhammad Jinnah and the formation of Pakistan.
Jinnah's life is examined as are the characteristics of Pakistan as a borderland nation straddling
South and Central Asia and the Middle East. The assumption of many is to blame Jinnah for not
doing enough (i.e. freeing Kashmir from Indian occupation) or for truncating what was British
India (which is often confused for a country when the Indian sub-continent has seen a series of
empires, but usually various nations and empires existed anyway). Akbar analyzes how Jinnah's
role allowed a smoother and less violent transfer of power, which otherwise would have
inevitably led to years of civil wars as various regions would've begun insurgencies. The reality
is that aside from Islam, Pakistan had various language groups and also western Pakistan, if one
is to be fair, should have been returned to Afghanistan if the argument is made that Pakistan
should not have been created (usually from those advocating a Greater India). Islam being the
reasoning behind national unity was a misguided notion (as mostly Muslim Bangladesh seceded
in 1971 following shabby treatment at the hands of the Western Pakistanis who dictated terms
and were siphoning wealth and resources to the west) and does not take into account the varied
population of early Pakistan with its eastern and western wings which had little in common as
well as its sizeable Pashtun and Baluchi populations (which have agitated with merger with
Afghanistan in the past or simply sought secession). Mr. Ahmed examines Jinnah as a very
human man (few can survive the scrutiny of so many and emerge unscathed) whose beliefs and
political expertise allowed him to forge an identity for millions of people who would otherwise
have been either successful after years of bloody wars or would be branded terrorists and
"Indian" rebels just to attain recognition amongst a population that represents one-fifth of
mankind. Jinnah's actions helped to give an identity to the northwest portions of British India
which had been dormant, but always there. Vast multi-ethnic states inevitably end up serving the
needs of the majority population or in the case of India the elites claiming to represent the
majority population. A decentralized India with regional identities wasn't a bad idea at all as it is
afterall up to the people to decide what sort of orientation they want and what government etc.
Jinnah did what he thought was the best thing for the people he represented and from what I
understand there aren't any complaints from the Pakistanis so it would seem that it was a job well
done. Kudos to Ahmed for including the maps of various time periods prior to the creation of
Pakistan. Overall, I'd recommend this book, but there should have been more focus upon Jinnah
in my opinion.
Conclusion of Book:
In my concluding remarks, Akbar Salahuddin Ahmed has explained the life of Muhammad Ali
Jinnah very beautifully that anyone who has interest is history he can easily get lost in his book
he can play with words like a juggler when you start reading the book you can’t stop it reading it.
Every generation needs to reinterpret its great men of the past. Akbar Ahmed, by revealing
Jinnah's human face alongside his heroic achievement, both makes this statesman accessible to
the current age and renders his greatness even clearer than before. This is a must read book for
those who have interest in Muhammad Ali Jinnah.